Teaching

My teaching philosophy centers on empowering students to become active learners, critical thinkers, and future changemakers in public administration and urban planning. Viewing teaching as a mutual exchange of knowledge, I foster a collaborative, inclusive learning environment where theory meets practice through real-world applications. I employ a student-centered approach that fosters engagement and participation through mini lectures, case studies, field visits, and project-based learning.

Teaching Experience in Public Administration

University of Central Florida, FL, US

Adjunct Faculty (Fall 2024-Spring 2025)

PAD 3003 - Public Administration in American Society (Mixed-Mode)

Graduate Teaching Associate (Spring 2024)

PAD 6035 - Public Administration in the Policy Process (Online)

Graduate Teaching Assistant (2020-2023)

PAD 6700 - Research Methods in Public Administration
PAD 6237 - Ethics and Governance in Nonprofit Management
PAD 6227 - Public Budgeting
PAD 6035 - Public Administration in the Policy Process
PAD 5930 - Global Cities
PAD 5356 - Managing Community and Economic Development
PAD 5145 - Volunteerism in Nonprofit Management
PAD 4712 - Information Systems for Public Managers and Planners
PAD 4395 - Disaster Response & Recovery
PAD 3733 - Professional Administrative Writing in the Public Sector

Previous Teaching Experience

Art University of Tehran & Azad University- Tehran South Branch, Tehran, Iran (2015-2019)

Adjunct Faculty

Research Methodology
Urban Planning Studio 2 & 4
Urban Planning Studio 1 & 4 (Co-taught)
Seminar on Urban Issues
Urban Public Spaces
Urban Economy
Housing Planning
Environmental Psychology

Planning and Environmental Management

Understanding Urban Space
Histories and Theories of Urban Planning

Student Feedback & Testimonials

As Main Instructor

"Instructor was amazing and accesible."

"Clear communication on rubric guidelines and assignments."

"The clear instructions and expectations for each assignment."

"Dr. Alvanipour graded quickly and presented a well-informed syllabus/schedule."

"Feedback on every assignment to help better performance on next assignment."

"Good constructive criticism Great communication skills Due dates were fair."

Public Administration in the Policy Process, Spring 2024

"Nina's classes were always engaging and full of energy, making every session a valuable learning experience. What truly set her apart was her personalized attention to each student, ensuring everyone felt supported and understood. Even after graduation, Nina continued to be a reliable source of guidance and support, always offering thoughtful feedback on my projects. Her commitment to her students, both during and beyond the classroom, is remarkable, and I am truly grateful for her mentorship."

"She fostered a supportive learning environment where students felt confident to explore innovative ideas, and her course has had a lasting impact on my approach to integrating environmental management into urban planning."

Planning and Environmental Management, Spring 2017

"Nina's expertise and dedication left a lasting impact on my understanding of urban planning. Her problem-oriented approach in Urban Studio II helped us grasp complex urban dynamics. In Environmental Psychology, she deepened our understanding of how users interact with spaces. Urban Studio IV under her mentorship taught me to approach planning through collaboration and stakeholder engagement. Her Urban Management course laid a strong foundation for understanding city complexities, while the Seminar on Urban Issues broadened our perspective on current challenges. Nina's commitment to student growth and her deep knowledge have been invaluable to my academic and professional development."

Various undergraduate courses in urban planning, 2014-2017

"The course was an enriching experience, and I feel that I have gained a solid understanding of the key concepts in urban planning. Professor Alvandipour's teaching style was engaging and encouraged us to think critically about the real-world applications of the material. The workshop format allowed for hands-on learning, and it significantly deepened my interest in urban planning. I now feel motivated to explore the subject further and continue developing my knowledge in this field."

Histories and Theories of Urban Planning, Fall 2018

As Teaching Assistant

"Very helpful in accomplishing the objectives of the course and served as an excellent resource to the professor. It was great having a second opinion that completed the professors teaching. The input that she provided helped me improve my researching methods."

"I like how Nina tried to give detailed constructive criticism on feedback for assignments. She was knowledgeable and did her best with the grading criteria given her."

"The teaching assistant was always helpful when I needed assistance with an assignment and provided excellent post-submission feedback that helped with assignments going forward."

Research Methods in PA, Spring 2022 & Fall 2023

"The TA for this course was amazing. She took her time to leave comments when grading that were useful and encouraging. She also graded things in a timely manner. Also, if I needed to get in contact with her, she answered quickly. She did an amazing job this semester." "They seemed to give really good feedback when grading."